US Government Offers Rewards for Carteles Unidos Leaders
The US government has announced rewards totaling up to $26 million for various leaders of the Mexican crime organization known as Carteles Unidos. Some of these leaders have misleadingly claimed to be part of the Self-Defense Movement.
On Thursday morning, the US State Department revealed these substantial rewards for key figures within Carteles Unidos. The personalities and their respective reward amounts include:
- Juan José Farías Alvarez, also known as “el abuelo” – up to $10 million.
- Nicholas Sierra Santana, known as “Ergordo” – up to $5 million.
- Alfonso Fernández Magalllón, referred to as “Poncho” – up to $5 million.
- Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, who goes by “R5”, “Wicho”, and “Güicho” – up to $3 million.
- Edgar Orozco Cabadas, called “El Camoni” – up to $3 million.
As mentioned by the State Department, Carteles Unidos originated as a loose collective formed by a small cartel aimed at combating the Knights Templar and, more recently, the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). It’s worth noting that both Carteles Unidos and CJNG have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US State Department.
Carteles Unidos is notorious for its use of improvised explosive devices and land to target rivals and military personnel. They have been involved in recruiting Colombian mercenaries, which has led to the deployment of landmines resulting in casualties among innocent civilians and soldiers, as reported by various news sources.
Juan Jose “El Abuello” Farias, a prominent leader of Carteles Unidos, attempted to conceal his criminal activities by claiming to lead a self-defense group intended to safeguard ordinary citizens from drug cartels. Interestingly, Mexican authorities initially arrested him in 2018, but a judge controversially ruled his arrest illegal and ordered his release. Since then, Farias has been able to run his operations in Mexico without much fear of repercussions.
Alongside these rewards, federal authorities have enacted a series of sanctions via the US Treasury Department, banning US individuals and businesses from engaging with these cartel leaders.
